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Home > The Arts > Arts 2 | ||
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Museums, Performance Halls and Organizations |
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Acme Art Inc. |
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An avant-garde renovation of an old warehouse is
the perfect home for this artist-owned and operated studio. The working
environment zings electric with artists running their drills, welding with
their blowtorches and dueling airbrushes on bold mats of color. The gallery
space is upgraded with track lighting, and opening exhibits are warm and
friendly. A collection of working studios, the organization holds regular
advertised events but does not keep business hours for the public. |
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Associated Artists of Southport (910) 278-5562, (910) 457-5450 Housed in historic Franklin Square Gallery in Southport,
this nonprofit organization provides an increasingly rich environment
for the growth and development of local visual artists. It is dedicated
to the cultural enrichment of the community through education and the
promotion of original art. In 2004 the association celebrated the 25th
anniversary of its inception and the 100th anniversary of the Franklin
Square Gallery building. The gallery houses two floors of 2D and 3D
exhibit rooms, a sales office and a classroom. There are regularly
scheduled workshops in various media by recognized artists as well as
judged exhibitions and competitions, all of which are open to the
public. A national juried competition and exhibit is held each July in
conjunction with the N.C. Fourth of July Festival. Drawing and painting
classes are held Monday through Friday in the upstairs studio. Pottery
classes are conducted in the pottery studio behind the gallery. Painting
and pottery classes for children of the community are conducted yearly
and are partially funded by grants from the Brunswick Arts Council.
Kids' Day is a community fun day, free to the public, sponsored by the
Associated Artists, Brunswick County Parks and Recreation Department and
Southport Parks and Recreation Department. Association members serve as
instructors, speakers and judges for local schools and organizations.
Monthly meetings are held the third Monday of each month. Call for more
information or a membership application. Brunswick County Arts Council Established in 1981, this nonprofit volunteer organization is Brunswick County's primary arts information and funding source. Nonprofit arts funding is channeled to this group from the North Carolina Arts Council. With money received each year, the Brunswick Arts Council provides financial assistance to approximately 18 local nonprofit arts groups through Grassroots Arts Program grants; sponsors community events such as Concert by the Sea; publishes a directory of Brunswick County artists and art groups; and sponsors the Brunswick County Arts Council Art Show. The council also raises funds privately through its annual Miniature Masterpiece Gala. This funding provides assistance to individual artists and arts-related groups. Recently, the council partnered with the Brunswick County Board of Education to help introduce arts-integrated programs to all county schools. Resources for local arts information are available through
the Arts Council, the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce, (910)
457-6964, and the Brunswick Chamber of Commerce, (800) 426-6644. Membership
in the council is open to all interested citizens. The Brunswick Arts
Council offers a range of programs, including cultural symposiums, programs
for the classroom, bus trips to regional art venues, and more. Brunswick
Arts Council President Gary Halberstadt has established four distinct
operating divisions as a means to broaden its footprint throughout Brunswick
County: Student Art Education/Appreciation, Performing Arts, Literary Arts,
and Visual Arts, Each division is staffed with volunteers dedicated to their
respective genres. Halberstadt invites anyone interested in participating in
an operating division to contact him in writing or to attend a council
meeting, which is held on the second Monday of every month at 5:30 PM at the
Administration Building of Brunswick Community College. Public attendance is
invited as well. |
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CC Odell Williamson
Auditorium |
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Built in 1993 by the citizens of
Brunswick County for the educational and cultural enrichment of the
community, this 1,500-seat, state-of-the-art facility on the campus of
Brunswick Community College offers entertainment opportunities in the heart
of Brunswick County. In its short history, this center for the arts has
presented the talents of the North Carolina Symphony, the U.S. Marine Band,
the Kingston Trio, Jerry Reed, the All American Boys Chorus, the Tommy
Dorsey Orchestra, The Lettermen, Lee Greenwood, Pebo Bryson, a presentation
of The Odd Couple starring Jamie Farr and William Christopher
(Klinger and Father Mulcahey from the TV show M*A*S*H), Kathy Matea,
John Berry, Roy Clark, North Carolina Dance Theatre American Masterpieces
and various national touring companies performing such classics as Death
of a Salesman and Steel Magnolias. The auditorium and lobby
are available for private and public rental. 2008 will bring the completion
of a beautiful event hall that will be added to rental options. The
auditorium has a subscription season each year. For tickets or information
about renting the facility call (910) 755-7416 or (800) 754-1050 ext. 416.
Tickets may now be purchased online. |
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Chamber Music Wilmington Wilmington (910) 343-1049 www.chambermusicwilmington.org |
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Chamber Music Wilmington is a nonprofit organization that brings world-class chamber music concerts to southeastern North Carolina. All concerts are held at UNCW's new state-of-the art Beckwith Recital Hall. The 2008–09 evening series presents the acclaimed Alexander String Quartet from San Francisco, Daedalus String Quartet from New York's Avery Fischer Hall and many acclaimed artists and ensembles from North Carolina, including CMW's own resident ensemble, the Carolina Piano Trio. CMW's resident pianist/artistic director, Barbara McKenzie, creates a variety of interesting programs, including multimedia productions. During the 2008–09 season CMW will introduce a new Family Concert Series, which gives parents and children the opportunity to explore the world of music in a concert setting. Performances will be held on Saturday afternoons in the UNCW Beckwith Recital Hall and will make use of entertaining performances and premiere ensembles to introduce children to classical music. The performers include the Duchamp Duo from Paris, presenting their award-winning children's program, Fly Flee Flow, and the nation¹s only "music-telling" ensemble, Tales and Scales. Tickets for all CMW concerts are available at
the UNCW's Kenan Auditorium Box Office by calling (910) 962-3500. The
concerts have a reputation of selling out, so reserve your tickets early. |
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The Community Arts Center The Community Arts Center, formerly the
Wilmington U.S.O., is a part of Wilmington's Parks and Recreation
Department and is located in the center of historic downtown. Primarily
a learning facility where anyone may go to take low-cost lessons in a
full range of disciplines, the Community Arts Center also serves as a
rehearsal space for most of Wilmington's community theater groups. The
Thalian Association community theater manages the building for the city
and has offices and rehearsal space within the center. For nominal fees,
students of all ages can experience hands-on work under the direction of
skilled local artists. In addition to workshops and classes, other
programs include performances, concerts and fund-raisers, usually staged
in the Center's Hannah Block 2nd Street Stage theater area of the
facility. Under renovations through spring 2008, the offices are
temporarily located at the Jo Ann Carter Harrelson Center, 20 N. Fourth
Street in Wilmington. |
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Cucalorus Film Foundation |
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Oak Island Art Guild The Oak Island Art Guild meets the second Friday of each
month at the Oak Island Recreation Center. Experienced artists lead free
workshops in a relaxed atmosphere. These are held monthly and are open to
the public. Workshop topics include watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel,
pen-and-ink, colored pencil, clay, collage, tile painting, calligraphy,
portraits, abstracts and more. Each year the Guild awards a $1,000
scholarship for two semesters to a high school senior who is planning to
continue school and major in an arts-related field. The Art Guild also
donates arts books and videos to the local library and sponsors the Labor
Day Arts and Crafts Fair. Two events in which the guild cooperates with the
Parks and Recreation Department are the Celebration of Oak Island and the
annual Arts by the Shore, which is a judged art show held in the Oak Island
Recreation Center. |
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Louise
Wells Cameron Art Museum Cameron Art Museum is located in a 42,000-square-foot
facility designed by the renowned New York architecture firm of Gwathmey,
Siegel & Associates. Located on the corner of S. 17th Street and
Independence Boulevard in Wilmington, Cameron Art Museum presents rotating
special exhibitions in each of three areas. There are monthly family and
children's programs, interdisciplinary public programs (lectures, music,
films, literature, dance) and ongoing workshops and classes in ceramics at
the museum's unique clay studio with resident master artist and educator
Hiroshi Sueyoshi. The museum features an on-site gift shop and a
full-service restaurant. Museum hours are 11 AM to 5 PM Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and 11 AM to 9 PM on Friday. Admission is $5
for museum members, $8 for non-members, $5 for students with a valid student
identification card, and $3 for children ages 2 to 12. |
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Thalian Hall Center for the
Performing Arts Built in 1858, this majestic performance
center has gone through several restorations and, at this time, offers three
performance spaces. Housed within are a 675-seat main theater, the 250-seat
Council Chamber and a 100-seat studio theater. With a lively local
performing arts community and the addition of touring companies, at least
one of the spaces is in use each evening or afternoon. More than 35 area
arts and civic organizations use the facility, and more than 450
performances and screenings in music, theater, dance and film are presented
each year. (See our
Attractions chapter for more information on this facility.) The box
office number is (910) 343-3664. |
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Waterway Art Association The Waterway Art Association was established in 1991 to "encourage
artistic awareness and growth both on an individual as well as a community
level." An important part of this mission is accomplished in the
group's weekly paint-in program. The paint-ins are open to the community and
are held at the firehouse every Wednesday morning with the exception
of three weeks in December. The first and third Wednesday of each month also
include the option of painting and sketching from a live model. An outreach
paint-in project is scheduled on a monthly basis for two senior recreational
groups and one nursing facility group. Association members of all skill
levels participate in a variety of activities, such as professional
workshops, outdoor painting and sketching sessions and trips to museums and
exhibits. With the exception of December, meetings are held on the third
Wednesday of the months of September through May at 1:30 PM and include
arts-related programs. The association hosts a February Show and Sale, a
Memorial Day Exhibit, which is a judged show, and an outdoor Labor Day Show
and Sale. The association is supported in part by a Brunswick Arts Council
Grassroots Arts Program Grant. Wilmington Art Association Composed of professional and amateur visual artists and art enthusiasts,
the Wilmington Art Association holds small art shows throughout the year and
conducts an annual juried exhibition, the Spring Juried Art Show and Sale,
held during the Azalea Festival activities in April. The WAA also holds
meetings on topics of interest and sponsors frequent workshops, critiques,
educational programs and special projects. Meetings are held monthly
September through June on the second Thursday evening of each month at
6:30 PM at the Arboretum on Oleander Drive. |
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Azalea Coast Chorus of Sweet Adelines Sweet Adelines, the female counterpart of the Society
for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in
America (see the writeup for Cape Fear Chordsmen), promotes and
preserves the art of singing four-part harmony, barbershop style. The
Sweet Adelines meet on Mondays at 7 PM at the Wrightsville Beach Baptist
Church. Membership is open to all women who enjoy this original American
style of music. Battleship North Carolina
Hootenanny This concert of folk and pop favorites takes place on
the fantail of the Battleship North Carolina, underneath the
summer stars. Local folk musician John Golden brings together a
fantastic crew of local musicians for an evening of fun by the river.
Tickets are $10 (cash only and fee does not include tour of ship) with
sodas and popcorn a paltry $1. Proceeds go to Friends of the Battleship,
and the event takes place in the auditorium if weather should prove to
prohibit an outdoor show. Brunswick Concert Band and Brunswick
Big Band The nonprofit Brunswick Concert Band is composed of
volunteers from Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender and Horry counties who have
been playing together for the past 16 years. No auditions are required, and
volunteers who have at least a high-school skill level are invited to join,
with the stipulation that members have their own instrument and can read
music. The band plays a variety of music styles from jazz to light
classical, marches and show tunes. The Brunswick Big Band is made up of
members of the concert band and plays the swinging tunes of the 1940s.
Together the bands conduct two formal concerts in the spring and one during
the Christmas season. They also play at a variety of festivals and events in
the area, particularly the N.C. Fourth of July Celebration. Brunswick
Concert Band is a member of the Association of Concert Bands. Weekly
rehearsals are held on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 PM at the Progress
Energy Brunswick Energy Center in Southport. Cape Fear Blues Society Long a mainstay of Wilmington's music community, the Cape
Fear Blues Society has enjoyed exponential growth and expanded membership
in the last decade, making it one of the most successful music organizations
in eastern North Carolina. The group offers musicians of all skill levels an
opportunity to participate in the society's weekly jam sessions and annual
events, including an exciting blues talent competition held the first
weekend in November. The CFBS also actively participates in state and local
arts organizations and programs. Blues fans don't want to miss the annual
Cape Fear Blues Festival held in July (see
Annual Events for more details). The Cape Fear Bluesletter and
other benefits are available through membership in the society. Membership
meetings are held quarterly. Musicians and blues enthusiasts can join the
group's long-standing weekly jam session every Tuesday night from 8 PM until
midnight (or later). The CFBS provides any professional equipment you may
need; just bring your instruments. Call for meeting and jam locations.
The Cape Fear Chorale The Cape Fear Chorale has been performing in the
Wilmington area since the fall of 1998 and presents concerts in the fall and
spring of each year. The director, accompanist and more than 50 singers
volunteer their time, talents and effort to provide quality choral music to
the Cape Fear Region. New singers are welcomed at the beginning of each
concert season. Cape Fear Chordsmen This group is Wilmington's chapter of the Society for
the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in
America. Members practice male four-part harmony singing weekly at 7:30
PM on Tuesday evenings at the Winter Park Baptist Church in Wilmington.
New members are welcome; call for more information and a concert
schedule. |
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Carolina Vocal Arts
Ensemble |
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Carolina Vocal Arts Ensemble was founded in 2006
in response to requests from the committed members of the former Bach Choir
of Wilmington and the former Wilmington Masterworks Chorus. The ensemble’s
goal is to further enhance Wilmington’s lively choral music scene by
presenting concerts of great choral works with full orchestra, including
opera choruses. CVAE rehearses on Tuesday evenings from August through May
and is under the direction of conductor and pianist Stephen Field. If you
are interested in auditioning for this group, please call Stephen Field at
(910) 523-2975. |
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The Field Studio |
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Girls Choir of Wilmington Formed in 1997, this community-based choral ensemble has
an enrollment of approximately 100 girls. Girls ages 9 and older perform
a variety of classical, folk, sacred, secular and popular music. The
members learn teamwork, discipline, musicianship and community service
through the concerts and activities. Harmony Belles Formed in 1986, this local women's group sings four-part
harmony a cappella. Their performances for civic organizations,
churches, nursing homes, educational programs in schools and at local
events emphasize their philosophy of community service. Rehearsals are
Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 9 PM. Harmony Belles is open to new
members; call for rehearsal location and membership information. The
Belle Chords, a female quartet within the group, performs in a four-part
harmony. North Carolina Jazz Festival This winter weekend festival, now in its 28th year, is
usually scheduled for the first weekend in February and features
mainstream jazz performances by national and international stars. The
event is held at the Wilmington Hilton Riverside. This is a hugely
popular festival with fiercely devoted fans, so don't wait to call for
tickets. For more information see our
Annual Events chapter. |
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North Carolina Symphony |
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The Cape Fear Series of the North Carolina Symphony
presents six concerts from September through May at Kenan Auditorium on the
campus of UNC-Wilmington. For tickets, call Kenan Auditorium Ticket Office
at (910) 962-3500 or (800) 732-3643. Sea Notes Choral Society This nonprofit volunteer organization is based in
Southport and serves Brunswick County. Membership in the chorus, whose
numbers currently exceed 100, is open to all interested singers. Some
choral experience would be useful, but no auditions are required unless
you are applying to be a soloist. The group rehearses every Monday
evening at 7 PM in St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Southport. Concerts
include a variety of music, from the Messiah to folk to gospel
to pops. The chorus has a new director every season with three primary
concerts annually — in the spring, on the Fourth of July and at
Christmas. Check out the website for dates. Members are asked to pay
dues of $20 per year to supplement contributions and grants. All
concerts are free, though donations are gratefully accepted. Summer Sundays Open-air concerts sponsored by the City of
Southport and the Southport Visitors Center are held in the historic
Keziah Memorial Park from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend
on Sundays from 2 until 4 PM. Bring chairs, blankets, picnic baskets,
kids, families and elders and enjoy music by local artists. Jazz, rhythm
and blues, rock 'n' roll, bluegrass, show tunes, Big Band music and more
assure something for everyone's taste and enjoyment. |
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Westermark Voice Studio |
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Wilmington
Academy of Music The academy is a private school, founded in 1987, that
offers a full range of music instruction in voice, piano, guitar, harp,
violin, viola, cello, percussion, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, saxophone,
flute, tuba, oboe and more for students of all ages. Theory, orchestration,
arranging and other classes are available. Traditional, Suzuki and jazz
techniques are the methods of choice. Weekly private lessons and monthly
group lessons, recitals and master classes are offered. The academy offers a
variety of ensembles for weddings, receptions and special events, featuring
the combined talents of faculty members and experienced local musicians.
Call for details. Wilmington Choral Society This large, well-established chorus has been a presence in
Wilmington since 1950. Attracting singers from Wilmington and the
surrounding areas and from a cross-section of ages and professions, the
chorus prides itself on high-performance standards of classic choral
selections and a wide variety of contemporary music. The group participates
in three or four concerts annually. Members rehearse on Tuesdays from 7:25
to 9:30 PM at the Cape Fear Christian Church in Wilmington, and the
organization is open to all interested singers. No auditions are necessary. |
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Wilmington Concert Association |
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Established in 1929, Wilmington Concert Association brings
world-class music and dance to the Port City each year at UNCW's Kenan
Auditorium. Performances coming for the 2008-09 season are the Vienna Boys'
Choir; the Warsaw Philharmonic; the Mozart Festival Opera, which will
perform The Marriage of Figaro; and the Moiseev Russian Classical
Ballet performing The Sleeping Beauty. For tickets call Kenan
Auditorium ticket office at (910) 962-3500 or (800) 732-3643. Membership is
open to everyone. |
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Wilmington Symphony Orchestra |
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